Roof structure



Jan. 16, 1934. J, DlNsTBlR 1,943,588

ROOF STRUCTURE Filed Deo. 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l n m NVENTOR 6" i wage.

Jan. 16, 1934. Y H. J. DlNsT'BlR 1,943,588

ROOF STRUCTURE Filed Dec'. 9. 1931 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Jan. i6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 3 Claims.

. The present invention relates broadly to the art of building construction, and, more particularly to an improved roof structure adapted for automotive and other vehicles. i. 5 For purposes of a better understanding of the invention, it will be hereinafter described and illustrated in connection with an automobile top, vit being understood, however, that the utility of the invention is not thus limited. In automobiles as at present constructed, the roofs, particularly of closed automobiles, such as sedans and coupes, are not in keeping with the remainder of the car structure either as to inherent strength, durability or appearance. Such roof structures ordinarily comprise metallic quarter panels extending either entirely around the car and serving to define the plane of the roof proper, or extending around all sides thereof except the front. In any case, such quarter panels, being formed of metal, may be finished in keeping with the remainder of the car structure so that their appearance and durability conform to the remainder of the car. The principal portion of the roof, however, is ordinarily constructed of a fabric, or treated material of special composition having a materially less durability than the remainder of the car, andnot adapted to a finish of lasting characteristics. As the overall height of cars has been decreased, the roof -structure becomes more easily visible to the pedestrian, and is usually characterized by a center panel or panel-like structure of dull appearance. Not only does the present day roof construction detract from the general appearance of the automobile, by reason of its inherent characteristics, but it is objectionable by reason of its susceptibility to comparatively easy destruction. Thus, in the case of parked cars it not infrequently happens that holes are burned in the roofs, through the head lining and frequently the upholstery, 40 since the fabric compositions in present day roofs are of a combustible nature.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved roof construction which will have characteristics in keeping with those of durability and susceptibility to a lasting finish.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown by way of illustration only, certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a typical form `of car roof constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is' a transverse sectional view on the the remainder of the car both as to appearance,

(Cl. 296-437)l line lI--lI of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, along the line III-III of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating o0 a modified embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figures 3 and 4, illustrating still another form of the invention;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a blank adapted to form a. roof structure of the character illustrated 05 in Figure 4 of the drawings;

Figure 6a is an inverted plan view of one corner of the blank when folded up to its final shape;

Figure 6b is a detail sectional view along the line VI-VI of Figure 6a, looking in the direc- 10 tion of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, illustrating a portion of a blank adapted to form a roof of the construction illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure 7a is an inverted plan view of a portion u of the blank of Figure 7 when folded to nal shape;

Figure 7b is a detail sectional view on the line VII-VII of Figure 7a, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 8 is a detail sectional v'iew on an enlarged scale along the line VIII-VIII of Figure l.

In the construction of car roofs, and particularly where utilized for automotive vehicles, there are -certain fundamental requirements which 35 must be satisfactorily met. In the first place the roof must be of suilicient inherent rigidity to maintain itself under the different road conditions to which it is subjected. To this end, and in order to accommodate the weaving of the car body, it has been considered necessary that the roof be of more or less flexible material. In accordance with the present invention, the flexible material is replaced by sheet metal of suitable thickness having a certain amount of inherent resiliency, but preferably braced to preclude possibility of distortion. The weaving of the car, and any difference between expansionY and contraction of the car body and the car roof, are absorbed by means of a special mounting by 1 means of which the metallic roof is carried.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 8, there is shown an automobile roofincluding quarter panels 2 extending around three sides thereof and serving to deflne the plane of the roof proper and connect the entire roof structure to the car body 3 Aindicated lin dotted lines in Figure 2. These quarter panels, which v may be pressed from a continuous sheet .o'r from a series of strips suitably secured together, usually )l0 provide substantially horizontally extending inwardly projecting flanges 4 joined to the car body, and vertically extending fianges 5 defining the plane of the roof proper and the area or extent thereof.

In accordance with the form of the invention illustrated in these figures, I provide a strip of yielding or resilientmaterial 6, herein illustrated as molded rubber, extending completely around the roof opening dened by the quarter panels. Such material, which must serve as a sealing material and shock absorbing material, is preferably constructed to provide a substantially vertically extending outer wall 7 adapted to abut against the inner side of the flange 5, and with a projection 8 adapted to underlie the lower edge of such flange. At its upper portion there is provided a projecting lip 9 adapted to extend outwardly over the quarter panel an appreciable distance and thus preclude the passage of water upwardly along the quarter panel and thence downwardly between the flange 5 and the material 6.

At its opposite side the strip 6 is formed with a second projection 10, similar to the projection 8, and adapted to underlie the lower edge of a downwardly projecting stiifening flange 11 lying against the inner surface 12 of the strip 6 and Welded or otherwise secured, as indicated at 14, to a metallic roof 15. The roof is of such dimensions as to overlie the strip 6 and the lip 9, and preferably terminate substantially flush with the outer edge of the lip and thus form a durable and attractive finish with the quarter panel, and serve as confining and protecting means for the sealing strip. The roof panel is also preferably of such contour as to subject at least the lip portion 9 to a considerable degree of compression, thus more effectively sealing the same against the quarter panel 2.

The parts having been assembled in the desired relationship, they may be secured in such assembled position by means of bolts 16 extending through the flanges 5 and 12 and the body of the sealing strip 6 and clamping the same together into a unitary structure. If for any reasonv it is desired at any time to remove or repair a roof, this may be easily accomplished by loosening and removing the bolts 16 and elevating the roof panel as a unit from the car.

For stiffening the roof panel, it may be provided with any desired number of ribs or channels 17 extending transversely thereof-as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. Such reinforcing means may conveniently be in the form of inverted channels 18 adapted to receive nailing strips 19 held in position by suitable fastening means 20V. As is customary in the art, these nailing strips 19 will preferably terminate above the bottom of the sealing strips 6 an appreciable distance, thereby affording fastening means, similar in function to those now utilized, for the attachment of the head liner or inner roof cover.

The roof structure of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 8 may be preferred in many cases due to the fact that it may be formed from a single sheet of metal having the proper over-all dimensions. It is,

however, open to the objection that the flanges 12 must be separately welded in position. In Figures 4, 6, 6a and 6b, there is illustrated a modified form of roof panel construction in which parts corresponding to those heretofore described are designated by the same reference characters having a primev ailixed thereto. this embodiment of the invention, vthe vinner flange 12 is formed integrally with the roof y12 is of double thickness.

panel 15 by utilizing a blank 21 such as that illustrated in Figure 6. With such a blank, the chain line 22 illustrates the bending line adapted to form the corner.23 of Figure 4; the chain line 24 indicates the bending line along which the sheet is bent to form the reverse bend 25, and the chain line 26 indicates the bending line along which the sheet is bent to form the corner 2'7.A

The portions 28 of the blank form the peripheral portions 29 of the finished roof which overlie the sealing strip 6' and the lip 9'. l

When the blank is bent into its nal yshape along the lines 22, 24 and 26, the angularly arranged portions 30 thereof f-orm the square corners 3l of the flanges l2', while the inclined porlions 32meet along the line 33, Figure 6a, to form a corner joint in the finished panel. With such a blank, added strength is insured by reason of the fact that the downwardly projecting flange Such a construction further gives increased resiliency in a roof structure since the inner and outer portions of the compound flanges 12 may move slightly toward and away from each other to the limit permitted by the bolts 16. For sealing and partially concealing the joint between the portions of the compound flanges 12', I may utilize a flexible sealing material 34 of suitable plastic nature.

In case it is desired to obviate a seam line in the roof panel and still avoid the expenseincident to the welding of the inner flange in position, I may utilize a construction as illustrated in Figures 5, 7, 7a and 7b wherein reference characters corresponding to those used in described Figures l, 2, 3 and 8, but having a double prime affixed thereto, are utilized. With this form of the invention the roof blank 35 is formed to provide a bending line 36 adapted to form the reversely bent edge 37 as'illustrated in Figure 5, and the bending line 38 to provide the right angle bend 39 of Figure 5. t

The cut-away portion 40, when the blank is bent to shape, forms a 45 meeting line 41, as shown in Figure 7a, while the angularly extending portions 42 meet to form thejoint 43 between the longitudinally and transversely extending flange portions 12". In this construction the peripheral portion 9 of the roof panel is of double thicknessand the 'flange 12" of single thickness. The double thickness of the peripheral portion of the roof panel gives added strength at the edge thereof and forms a smooth peripheral edge insuring an attractive finish.

With -all forms of my invention the entire roof is constructed of metal adapted to have a finish applied thereto similar to the finish applied to the remainder of the car, and thus giving to the roof itself an appearance comparable to that of the car body. The life of the roof and they strength thereof are correspondingly increased.

My invention has for a further advantage greater ease of manufacture and assembly of the roof structure, with greater ease of roof removal and replacement in case repairs or substitutions are required,

With all of the forms of the invention herein.`v

` to the car occupants is minimized.

While I have herein illustrated'and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that changes in the construction, arrangement and location of the parts may be made without departing either from the spirit of my invention or the scope of my broader claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a car body, a metallic roof therefor, and a rubber shock absorbing and compensating means between said roof and said car body, said rubber means being substantially L-shaped in cross-section, one portion of the L being relatively thicker than the other portion.

2. In a vehicle body roof, the combination with quarter panels extending upwardly from the body dening a roof opening, a roof sheet overlying said opening, a ange extending downwardly from said. roof sheet, and a rubber ller spacing the roof sheet and its iiange from the edge of the opening, said ller being of sufiicient thickness to compensate for weaving and shock, and for expansion and contraction of the roof sheet and body. 3. A roof for vehicle bodies having quarter panels extending upwardly therefrom forming a roof opening, comprising a continuous roof sheet overlying said opening and having a. flange depending thereinto, and a rubber sealing member between the ange and the edge of the opening, saidv member being of such thickness and elasticity as to absorb without excessive strain the shocks incident to weaving of the body andthe expansion 

